Rearview mirror for motor vehicles

ABSTRACT

A rearview mirror for motor vehicles has a housing and a mirror assembly pivotably supported in the housing. A first Bowden cable arrangement and a second Bowden cable arrangement are connected to the mirror assembly for pivoting the mirror asembly. The first and second Bowden cable arrangements are actuatable so as to act alternatively in a same direction and in opposite directions on the mirror assembly. The first and second Bowden cable arrangements each have a sleeve and a cable enclosed by the sleeve. The cable is pressure-resistant and pull-resistant and is guided without play in the sleeve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rearview mirror for motor vehicles,especially an exterior rearview mirror, with a Bowden cable arrangementfor adjusting the mirror assembly.

In order to be able to pivot the mirror assembly about a horizontal aswell as about a vertical axis, this adjustment is made possibleaccording to the prior art with three Bowden cable arrangements whichare designed such that loading is primarily by pulling forces.

It is an object of the present invention to simplify the aforementionedrearview mirror in order to reduce the number of constructive elements,without impairing the precision of mirror adjustment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The rearview mirror for motor vehicles according to the presentinvention is primarily characterized by:

A housing;

A mirror assembly pivotably supported in the housing;

A first Bowden cable arrangement and a second Bowden cable arrangementconnected to the mirror assembly for pivoting the mirror assembly;

The first and second Bowden cable arrangements actuatable so as to actalternatively in a same direction and in opposite directions on themirror assembly;

The first and second Bowden cable arrangements each comprising a sleeveand a cable enclosed by the sleeve, wherein the cable ispressure-resistant and pull-resistant and is guided without play in thesleeve.

The sleeves surround the cables so tightly that vehicle jarring andvibration do not cause displacement of the cables in the sleeves.

Advantageously, each one of the sleeves has opposite ends and therearview mirror further comprises connectors for securing the oppositeends of the sleeve against longitudinal displacement.

Preferably, at least one of the opposite ends of one of the sleeves isdetachably secured to one of the connectors so as to allow for varyingthe distance of an end face of the at least one opposite end to the oneconnector.

Preferably, the at least one opposite end of one sleeve comprisesprojections staggered in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve andforming fastening elements therebetween, wherein the connector is astationary part engaging a selected one of the fastening elements.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the opposite ends ofthe sleeves have a circumferential projection and the connectors arestationary claw-shaped holders. The circumferential projections aresnap-connected to the claw-shaped holders.

Preferably, the rearview mirror further comprises a stationary part anda control member connected to the stationary part so as to be linearlydisplaceable and pivotable. The cables have first ends connected to thecontrol member, wherein the first ends have a spherical projection andthe control member has recesses for receiving the spherical projections.

Advantageously, the rearview mirror also further comprises a controllever supported at a ball joint and including a transverse member at oneend. The control member has a groove on a side remote from the recessesand the transverse member engages the groove.

Preferably, the control member has a height perpendicular to thestationary part and a length wherein the height is smaller than thelength and wherein the rearview mirror further comprises a securingcover for securing the control member on the stationary part. Thesecuring cover preferably comprises a ball joint, wherein the rearviewmirror further comprises a manually operated control lever supported atthe ball joint for adjusting the rearview mirror.

Expediently, ends of the cable connected to mirror assembly have aspherical projection and the mirror assembly comprises sockets forreceiving the spherical projections. The spherical projections and thesockets form ball-and-socket joints.

According to the present invention, the mirror adjustment is performedwith two Bowden cable arrangements which can be operated so as to act inthe same direction or in opposite directions, as desired, and which havea cable positioned within a sleeve that is pressure-resistant andpull-resistant and practically guided in the sleeve without play. Thedisplacement of the Bowden cable arrangements in opposite directionsresults in a pivoting of the mirror assembly about an axis, preferablyabout a horizontal axis, while the displacement of the two Bowden cablearrangements in the same direction results in a pivoting about a furtheraxis that is perpendicular to the first axis, i.e., preferably avertical axis. The arrangement of the cables without play within thesleeves ensures that an exact and precise displacement is possible.Furthermore, this arrangement provides for damping: the mirror assemblyis thus insensitive to jarring and impact. Since the cables of theBowden cable arrangement are also pressure-resistant, they are able totransmit pressure and adjusting forces with a movement of the cablestoward the mirror assembly.

This embodiment of the Bowden cable arrangements makes it possible thatan especially flat, space-saving arrangement can be provided at the endfacing the operator of the Bowden cable arrangements, i.e., at the endat which the control lever etc. is positioned.

Furthermore, due to the invention it is also possible to providepreventive measures in the case that the mirror assembly is to bepositioned in different basic positions, respectively, is to be adjustedto various positions. This is, for example, important when a left and aright exterior rearview mirror are to be provided for the driver of thevehicle which require different basic positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The object and advantages of the present invention will appear moreclearly from the following specification in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a horizontal part-sectional view of an exterior rearviewmirror of a motor vehicle;

FIG. 2 shows a view of the holder for the mirror body in the directionof arrow II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the operating end of the adjusting device with Bowden cablearrangements in a part-sectional view;

FIG. 4 shows a section along the line IV--IV of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 shows a section along the line V--V of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In a cup shaped housing 1 indicated only with dashed lines in FIG. 1 amirror assembly comprising a mirror body 2 secured to a mirror holder 3is provided which is facing the driver of the vehicle. Centrally at theback side of this holder 3 a ball 4 of a ball joint is provided withwhich the mirror body 2 can be pivoted about a horizontal axis 5 and avertical axis 6 in order to adjust the mirror position as required bythe user of the mirror. A plate-shaped part 7 is part of thenon-adjustable inner furnishing of the exterior rearview mirror.

For adjusting the position of mirror body 2 about the two axes 5 and 6two Bowden cable arrangements 8, 9 are provided which have practicallythe same length. They are comprised of a sleeve 10 which is flexible anda cable 11 which is pressure-resistant and pull-resistant andpractically arranged without play within the exterior sleeve 10. Thecable 11 has ends in the form of a ball head 12 at the side facing themirror body and a ball head 13 at the side facing the operator.According to the left half of FIG. 3 (compare the respective sectionalview), the inner diameter of the sleeve 10 corresponds to the outerdiameter of the cable 11. A displacement of the cable 11 relative to thesleeve 10 thus can only be performed by overcoming frictional forces.Such frictional forces can be overcome easily by manual displacement butprevent undesirable displacements when the exterior rearview mirror issubjected to jarring or vibrations. The otherwise conventionallynecessary securing springs are thus essentially obsolete.

The sockets 14 provided at the backside of the holder 3 which togetherwith the ball heads 12 form ball-and-socket joints, are in the form ofsnap-in cups and are comprised of an elastically deformable material forreceiving by pressing the ball heads 12. In the snapped-in state theball heads 12 remain in their effective position for forming aball-and-socket joint. The Bowden cable arrangement 8 penetrates theplate-shaped part 7 through a bore 15. The sleeve 10 is provided at itsexterior surface with three circumferential ribs (projections) forforming two fastening elements in the form of circumferential grooves 16in order to secure the sleeve 10 in a positive-locking manner by one ofthe circumferential groove 16 to the stationary part (connector) 7. Thethus resulting different positions of the end face 10a of the sleeve 10relative to the stationary part 7 of the mirror provide for an optionaladaptation of the mirror position to the needs of the driver, forexample, for the right mirror and the left mirror different basicpositions of the mirror body 2 are required. With a simple mounting aidin the form of two circumferential grooves 16 the mirror can thus beoffered and used as a left or a right mirror for a motor vehicle.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, only two sockets 14 are provided for theBowden cable arrangements. Both points of attack of the Bowden cablearrangements 8, 9 are positioned at the same distance from the axes 5, 6on one side of the vertical axis 6, but symmetrical to the horizontalaxis 5. The pivoting about the horizontal axis 5 thus is performed by arelative movement of the two Bowden cable arrangements 8, 9 while thepivoting about the axis 6 is carried out with a movement of the Bowdencable arrangements 8, 9 in the same direction.

In FIG. 3 the ends of the two Bowden cable arrangements 8, 9 facing theoperator are shown in a view of the backside of the base 17 of themirror housing (this side is facing the interior of the vehicle). Here,the two sleeve ends are provided with a circumferential bead 18 in orderto secure the sleeve ends against axial displacement. The beads 18 areguided and secured in the holders (connectors) 19 with a snap-onconnection. This connection is achieved by pressing the end of the hoseinto the holder and can be released by manually pulling at the sleeveend.

The spherical heads 13 of the first ends of the sleeve 11 restessentially on the base of the mirror housing 17, respectively, on aplanar support and are engaged by a bar-shaped control member 20 whichis simply placed onto the two spherical heads 13. FIG. 3 shows thecontrol member 20 only in a dashed line. At the back side of the controlmember 20 a groove 21 is provided that engages a transverse member 22that is connected to the free end of a control lever 23. This lever 23is supported in a manner known per se to a ball joint 24 and is providedwith a grip 25 in the interior of the vehicle. By actuating the grip 25,the control member 20 can thus be moved for a common longitudinaldisplacement of the Bowden cable arrangements 8, 9 in the direction ofdouble arrow 26 (pivoting of the mirror assembly 2, 3 about the verticalaxis 6) and in the direction of double arrow 27 for oppositedisplacement of the two Bowden cable arrangements 8, 9 (pivoting of themirror assembly 2, 3 about the horizontal axis 5).

Such an embodiment of the area of the inner ends of the Bowden cables 8,9 has special advantages. Not only is a very simple assembly possible,since the control member 20 is simply placed onto the Bowden cablearrangement ends to be fixed in position (and then threading a lid 28with the ball joint 24 thereon), but, in addition, a very flatconstruction is provided which is especially desirable at the side ofthe mirror facing the vehicle.

The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to thespecific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but alsoencompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:
 1. A rear view mirror for motor vehicles, said mirrorcomprising:a housing; a mirror assembly pivotably supported in saidhousing about a first axis and a second axis extending perpendicular tosaid first axis; a first Bowden cable arrangement connected to saidmirror assembly at a first point of attack and a second Bowden cablearrangement connected to said mirror assembly at a second point ofattack, wherein said first and second points of attack are positionedopposite one another relative to said first axis and on a same side ofsaid mirror assembly relative to said second axis and are equally spacedfrom said first axis and equally spaced from said second axis; saidfirst and second Bowden cable arrangements actuatable so as to actalternatively in a same direction for pivoting said mirror assemblyabout said second axis and in opposite directions for pivoting saidmirror assembly about said first axis; said first and second Bowdencable arrangements each comprising a sleeve and a cable enclosed by saidsleeve, wherein said cable is pressure-resistant and pull-resistant andis guided without play in said sleeve.
 2. A rear view mirror accordingto claim 1, wherein said sleeves engage said cables such that vehiclejarring and vibrations do not cause displacement of said cables in saidsleeves.
 3. A rear view mirror according to claim 1, wherein each one ofsaid sleeves has opposite ends and wherein said rear view mirror furthercomprises connectors for securing said opposite ends of said sleevesagainst longitudinal displacement.
 4. A rear view mirror according toclaim 3, wherein at least one of said opposite ends of one of saidsleeves is detachably secured to one of said connectors so as to allowfor varying the distance of an end face of said at least one oppositeend to said one connector.
 5. A rear view mirror according to claim 3,wherein said at least one opposite end of one of said sleeves comprisesribs staggered in the longitudinal direction of said sleeve and formingfastening elements therebetween, wherein said connector is a stationarypart engaging a selected one of said fastening elements.
 6. A rear viewmirror according to claim 3, wherein:said opposite ends of said sleeveshave a circumferential bead; said connectors are stationary claw-shapedholders; and said circumferential beads are snap-connected to saidclaw-shaped holders.
 7. A rear view mirror according to claim 1,comprising a planar support and a control member connected to saidplanar support so as to be linearly displaceable and pivotable, whereinsaid cables have first ends connected to said control member, whereinsaid first ends have a spherical projection and said control member hasrecesses for receiving said spherical projections.
 8. A rear view mirroraccording to claim 7, further comprising a control lever supported at aball joint and including a transverse member at one end, wherein saidcontrol member has a groove on a side remote from said recesses andwherein said transverse member engages said groove.
 9. A rear viewmirror according to claim 7, wherein said control member has a heightperpendicular to said stationary part and a width in a direction oflinear displacement thereof, wherein said height is smaller than saidwidth, said rear view mirror further comprising a securing cover forsecuring said control member on said stationary part.
 10. A rear viewmirror according to claim 9, wherein said securing cover comprises saidball joint, said rear view mirror further comprising a manually operatedcontrol lever supported at said ball joint for adjusting said rear viewmirror.
 11. A rear view mirror according to claim 1, wherein ends ofsaid cables connected to said mirror assembly have a sphericalprojection and wherein said mirror assembly comprises sockets forreceiving said spherical projections, wherein said spherical projectionsand said sockets form ball-and-socket joints.